Vapor-liquid withdrawal selector valve



Feb. 18, 1969 cage. WINTERS ET AL 3,428,225

VAPOR-LIQUID, WITHDRAWAL SELECTOR VALVE Filed May 11, 1967 14120? ugu/a INVEHTORS GARY G.WINTERS WILLIAM J.HAML ICHARD O. PENCER '7 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A valve device has been provided for attachment to the opening on top of a pressurized container and adapted for the selective withdrawal of liquid or vapor therefrom. It comprises a closure cap such as a standard aerosol valve cap securely fitted within a spud in the opening of the container. The closure cap has a closed bottom end with a central opening adapted to threadedly receive a hollow externally threaded body. Inside the container, there is a funnel-shaped structure defined by a lower tubular member and an upper truncated conical section securely engaged into the closure cap. The conical section contains at least one, but preferably several perforations circumferentially spaced for the passage of vapor. A depressible pin extends centrally through the hollow externally threaded body. The pin is integrally attached at its lower end to a unitary structure consisting of an upper seat, a lower seat and means for connecting the two seats. A hollow valve body with internally threaded lower end is threadedly engaged onto the hollow externally threaded body. An elongated member extends centrally through the valve body having a lower end which terminates adjacently above the upper end of the pin. The upper end of the elongated member is connected to a selector lever which is adapted to lower the elongated member so as to depress the pin and thereby lower the two seats so as to withdraw either liquid or vapor depending on the relative positions of the seat and the vapor passages. The valve body is also provided with an outlet for the discharge of liquid or vapor.

This invention relates to valves and in particular to a specially constructed selector valve suitable for the selective withdrawal of vapor or liquid from a pressurized container.

In withdrawing fluids from a pressure vessel containing both vapor and liquid under pressure, it is sometimes desirable to withdraw vapor and at other times to withdraw liquid only. There are several valves or similar devices which when mounted on or attached to the top of such pressure vessels permit the withdrawal of vapor or liquid selectively. Such valves are described for example in U.S. 2,365,423 and 3,021,870. However, these valves are generally expensive to construct and must remain permanently attached to the pressurized container, A valve device has been described in a commonly assigned copending application, in which the valve is employed for the withdrawal of vapor or liquid selectively. However the device described therein is not provided with an integrally attached unitary structure which would permit the selective withdrawal of liquid or vapor conveniently.

In the shipment of refrigerants in recent years, it has become increasingly necessary and economically desirable to ship the refrigerant (usually fluorocarbons) in a pressurized cylinder without a conventional discharge valve. Simplicity of construction and economy of fabrication of such cylinders have become of paramount commercial importance and have in turn resulted in the use of so-called disposable cylinders which can be discarded after one use by the consumer. Simplicity in cylinder construction has necessitated simplicity and economy in the types of dispensing mechanisms which must be employed with such cylinders. When ready to use, the valve can be mounted on top of the cylinder by simple attachment to the cylinder opening or spud. Either liquid or vapor can then be withdrawn by proper manipulation of the selector part of the valve as will hereinafter be explained.

Accordingly, this invention provides a valve device which can be readily mounted on pressurized vessels containing both vapor and liquid under pressure and which can be operated conveniently to withdraw vapor or liquid selectively. Furthermore, this invention provides such a selective vapor-liquid withdrawal device with convenient flow control means whereby the rate of the fluid withdrawal can be regulated at will. The valve described herein is simple to fabricate and economical to construct and is therefore readily adaptable for use with such disposable cylinders. The present invention will be more clearly comprehended from the following detailed description of the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic view of the selector valve device of this invention.

Referring now specifically to the drawing, numeral 1 designates a cylinder having a central opening provided with a spud 3 and a standard aerosol valve cap, such a cap '5 having flat bottom end 7 adapted to receive an externally threaded member 9 having a passage 11. The closure cap is securely attached to spud 3 by the crimped section 13 as shown in the drawing or it may be attached by some other means such as a lock-nut or snap ring. An elongated member such as a depressible pin 15 extends axially through passage 11. The pin is embedded or otherwise securely attached to a unitary structure consisting of an upper plug member 17, a lower plug member 19, connecting arms 21, and a perforation or passage way 21a.

Extending vertically down through the cylinder there is shown a substantially funnel-shaped member defined by a vertically extending conduit 23, a substantially truncated conical wall portion 25 (hereafter referred to as dip tube connector) extending from the upper end of said conduit, and a further upward extension 25a adapted for engagement with the lower end of closure cap 5 as shown in the drawing. The dip tube connector contains one or more circu-mferentially arrayed perforations 27 for the passage of vapor from the cylinder as will be explained hereinafter. A plastic or rubber tubing (dip tube) 23a is attached to conduit 23 and extends vertically down to the bottom of the cylinder.

A resilient member such as spring 29, fixed at its lower end as in 31 and adapted to be compressed by depression of pin 15, is attached at its upper end with respect to plug member 17. A fusible metal plug 33 may be sealably positioned at the bottom end 7 of closure cap 5 in order to guard against excessive pressure build-up within the cylinder, due to temperature rise.

A valve body 37 is threadedly attached to the threaded member 11 as shown in the drawing. An elongated member 39 extends axially through the valve body and has attached thereto at its upper end a selector lever 41 which is adapted to rotate in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction and in so doing will give two different degrees of downward movement to the elongated member 39. The lower end of elongated member 39 terminates adjacently above the upper end of pin 15 when the valve is at its normal closed position. Valve body 37 is threaded at its upper end and is adapted to threadedly engage with a threaded packing gland nut 43 which insures a gastight seal and securely positions elongated member 39. Valve body 37 is provided with a laterally extending outlet 47 which can be suitably attached to some external source and the liquid or vapor from the cylinder is ordinarily discharged through this outlet. A valve handle 49 is attached to a horizontally extending stem 51 which extends through the valve body and terminates into a head portion 53 adapted to close or open outlet 47 and thereby permit the passage of vapor or liquid therethrough. A second threaded packing gland nut 43a is threadedly engaged onto the laterally projecting threaded section of valve body 37 in order to insure alignment of stem 51 and to provide a tight seal.

In operation pin 15 can be depressed by turning the selector lever in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction mechanically or by hand. Thus, when the selector lever is turned in a clockwise direction elongated member 39 is lowered thereby causing depression of pin 15 which in turn lowers plug members 17 and 19 until the plug member 17 completely obstructs vapor passages 27 in the dip tube connector. When the vapor passages are completely obstructed, liquid will be withdrawn through the dip tube perforation 21a, the valve body and outlet 47. When vapor withdrawal is required the selector lever may be turned in a counter-clockwise direction. When the selector lever is turned in a counter-clockwise direction the extent of downward movement exerted on pin 15 by elongated member 39 is reduced. Thus, plug member 17 will no longer completely obstruct the vapor passages and therefore vapor can be withdrawn from the cylinder.

While the valve device of this invention has heretofore been described and illustrated in the drawing with a certain degree of particularity and conciseness, it should be nevertheless understood that many modifications and revisions may be suggested in the light of this disclosure which are nevertheless within the scope of this invention. For example, the number and geometrical configuration of the perforations (vapor passages) in the dip tube connector can vary. Generally, I to 8 circumferentially and preferably equidistantly arrayed perforations are advantageous. Similarly, these perforations may be circular, oval, rectangular or any other shape, except that sulficient flow area must be available to avoid excessive pressure drop, which could cause siphoning of liquid when only vapor is desired.

What is claimed is:

1. A device adapted to be attached to an opening on top of pressurized container for the selective withdrawal of vapor or liquid therefrom, comprising, in combination, a receptacle member with a closed bottom having a substantially central opening therein, said receptacle member being securely positioned into said opening of the pressurized container; a hollow externally threaded member extending through said opening in the closed bottom of said receptacle member and being securely engaged thereby; a substantially funnel-shaped member inside said pressurized container defined by a vertically extending hollow member having a lower end and an upper end and a substantially truncated conical wall portion extending from said upper end and having at least one perforation circumferentially disposed therein; a first elongated depressible member having an upper end and a lower end and extending centrally within said hollow externally threaded member; a unitary structure defined by an upper seal member integrally attached to said lower end of said first elongated depressible member, a lower seal member and means for connecting said upper and lower seal members, said lower seal member being arranged to coact with said truncated conical wall portion to close said perforation when said depressible member is depressed; a resilient member positioned between said upper seal member and the upper end of said vertically extending hollow member; a hollow valve body having an upper end and an internally threaded lower end threadedly engaged onto said hollow externally threaded member, said valve body having an intermediate outlet means; a second elongated member extending substantially centrally through said valve body having an upper end and a lower end terminating adjacent the upper end of said first elongated depressible member; rotatable means for downwardly biasing said second elongated member and means for closing or opening said outlet means in the valve body, said unitary structure having a passageway to thereby establish communication between said pressurized container and said hollow valve body 'when said lower seal member is in sealing position with respect to said perforation in said conical wall portion.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein said truncated wall portion contains a plurality of circumferentially arrayed perforations.

3. A device as in claim 1 wherein said truncated wall portion contains a plurality of circumferentially arrayed perforations equidistantly spaced therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,867,356 1/1959 Thomas 222-40217 X 3,191,816 6/1965 Fead et a1. 222402.l7 3,283,962 11/1966 Whitmore ZZZ-402.18

M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

I. R. DWELLE, Assistant Examiner.

Us. 01. X.R. 

